Marina urges ship operators to service ‘missionary routes’

Marina urges ship operators to service ‘missionary routes’
Faye Orellana - February 19, 2019 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1087413/marina-urges-ship-operators-to-ser...

MANILA, Philippines – The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is encouraging shipping companies to deploy ships to missionary routes to enhance the connectivity of the country’s islands.

Marina officer-in-charge Narciso Vingson Jr. also asked shipping companies on Tuesday to suggest any missionary routes.

“The Marina declared 19 missionary routes on 31 January 2019 to further connect various islands between the Central Nautical Highway to the Eastern Nautical Highway or from the Western Nautical Highway to the Central Nautical Highway. These missionary routes are part of the remaining 109 lateral routes that need to be served, considering the availability of RoRo-capable ports,” he said in a statement.

“The shipping company that will serve a missionary route shall enjoy protection of investment for five years and 50 percent discount on the regular fees of all applications and renewal of ship documents, licenses, certificates, and permits,” Vingson added.

The statement of Vingson came after Marina revealed that some companies already expressed interest in serving missionary routes during the House Committee on Transportation’s Oversight Committee Hearing on the Roll-on-Roll-off or Roro System in Cebu City last Monday.

During the session, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lauded the efforts of the maritime industry in promoting the Strong Republic Nautical Highway System in the country.
Shipping companies have expressed interest in serving seven of 19 Roro routes, namely:

Batangas City – San Jose, Occidental Mindoro – Coron, Palawan
Lucena, Quezon – Odiongan, Romblon – Caticlan/New Washington
Lucena, Quezon – Romblon, Romblon
Lucena, Quezon – Masbate City-Calbayog, Northern Samar
Maasin, Southern Leyte – Ubay, Bohol
San Andres, Quezon – San Pascual, Masbate
Taytay, Palawan – Cuyo, Palawan

The remaining 12 routes awaiting servicing by interested operators are:

Basco, Batanes – Currimao, Ilocos Norte
San Juan, Batangas – Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro
Real, Quezon – Polillo Island, Quezon
Pantao, Albay – San Pascual, Masbate
Calbayog City, Samar – Cataingan, Masbate
Cuyo, Palawan – San Jose de Buenavista, Antique
Oslob, Cebu – Dumaguete, Negros Oriental
Punta Engano, Mactan Island, Cebu – Jetafe, Bohol
Poro, Camotes, Cebu – Isabel, Leyte
Lipata, Surigao del Norte – Dapa, Surigao del Norte
Siaton, Negros Oriental – Dipolog City
Lucena, Quezon – Buyabod, Marinduque /cbb